Keen Targhee III WP MID Review and Waterproof Test

[@stevenroche9874]

You are right. Keens are amazingly comfortable. I own three pairs (two restaurant shoes and one hiking boot) and have two more pairs on order! No other footwear brand in my collection can equal the comfort of Keen.

[@musicjones1956]

Great review! I’ve been looking at these mid hiking waterproof boots since I’m already a fan of Keen shoes. Your honest and forthright review only reinforces my opinion. Thanks!

[@WaywardStories]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I sincerely appreciate your review of my review lol. Comments like this help inform what kind of content I need to focus on. Have a great day!

[@kimberleyking4356]

i just got mine in the mail today and was glad to see you talked about the ankle thing! Thanks for the review :-)

[@WaywardStories]

Thanks for the view and the comment! Enjoy your hikers....I’m still loving these things

[@wlwhistlelucy1868]

$225 up here in Canada. I just bought these and I’m loving them thus far. Probably not advisable to wear these shoes in the water anyway they’re not flippers.

[@renatocaldas764]

Hope your ankle recovered along these 3 years. You should know your content is still helping others to choose a decent pair of hiking boots. I've been looking for the European ones, suffering with width. Now, I am in US for a few weeks, and had the opportunity to buy a pair of Targhee 3 for myself. Waiting for it to come, right after returning a La Sportiva Raptor II for running small and narrow toed.

[@WaywardStories]

Well thank you! It has gotten a lot stronger. Still aches at night when I go to sleep. Probably something I’ll carry the rest of my life lol. I appreciate your words! And I’m also happy this review helped you out! I hope you get a good solid pair. Mine lasted til just recently, and they’re still in good enough shape I wear them on archeological digs and other field work type of assignments. Enjoy your adventures and safe travels my friend!

[@GiantAnteatersRkool]

Thanks for the review. It's funny you mention the ankle support. I recently rolled my ankle bad in some low top Oboz and now am in the market for mid tops!

[@hvega8199]

Picked up these boots 2 weeks ago after seen how well your boots did submerged. Rained yesterday and the whole toe box got wet inside. Ankles were dry. Sending back. Might try a different pair. Thanks for the video 👍🏾.

[@WaywardStories]

Dang man that sucks. I’m sorry you had that experience. I feel bad since you made that purchase based on my video. Hoping it was just a lemon. Mine are still waterproof though the outer shell has started to fail. But mine have a ton of miles now. There have been a few other comments about more recent quality issues. Hopefully that’s not the trend of Keen’s. I’ve fully been preparing to buy another pair when mine finally give out. Thanks for the report and for watching and commenting!

[@xBLACKxOPSxSECRETSx2]

Mine did the same. Under the tounge area is all wet :(

[@intern4tional]

Thank you for the detailed water test and explaining where the leak was. I am looking for boots and will get these based on your recommendation. Thank you again!

[@ws3448]

Good review. You hit on one of the limitations of a waterproof boot around the gusset (the area that connects the tongue to the collar). These boots have a full waterproof booty, but in order to get your foot into it, you have to build in some space and that gusset area is always going to be the biggest risk area. You can see internally where the booty stops, and it's right at that line. It also helps all the materials on top of the booty in this case are waterproof, including the leather.

[@WaywardStories]

Well stated

[@matthewotis3594]

Why I love my Danners. The gusset goes to the top. 8" boots though.

[@ianbrowne9304]

Spot on with "most comfortable" I do have those boots but never trusted them in water. However ; I have found the sole style on boot in the video are not lasting ; especially the Keen ''Men's Targhee III Oxford Low Hiking Shoes Dark Earth Mulch'' are the most comfortable shoes I have worn in many years for my rather board feet; BUT SADLY; the soles do not last (12 months) even if not used on stony/rocky/hill country and I'm very close to 71 years --- most dog walking and photography plus some bitumen/concrete . I'm on my second pair in something like 2 years! Keen Australia have actually sent me a "good will" pair I would love hear your thoughts on how long the soles actually last

[@jerryvincent8402]

First time owner of Keen ankle high. Love mine and already looking forward to trying T 3 next. May ankles a in the toilet as well!!!🇺🇸🐻

[@WaywardStories]

I’m about due (finally) for some new ones myself. These now have countless thousand miles on them and still waterproof, but the soles are finally starting to give up the ghost. I gotta get in researching what I might try next.

[@WyeExplorer]

Superb! I've been looking for a cross between boots and shoes and this fits the bill. I still like my mid boots you see. I've looked at the Inov-8 but they're just not waterproof. These are rugged to. Thanks for sharing. Mark

[@WaywardStories]

Thanks for watching and commenting! I hope they work out for you. We’re now several months on since that video and I’m still wearing mine to work on rainy days and hiking in them most weekends. Still going strong.

[@WyeExplorer]

@@WaywardStories A pleasure. That's good to hear they're still holding up. Peace.

[@mr.b8372]

I've had mine for a year now. I wear them in the snow with wool socks. My feet stay warm and dry.

[@WaywardStories]

I’ve worn them for 12-14 hours a day in this snowpocalypse delivering with smart wool socks. Lot of areas here have 8+ inches. They’ve done rather well for me too. There is a point after that extended an amount of time where they finally give out and soak through but it’s several hours.

[@B_r_u_c_e]

Thank you.

[@defidemon1763]

mine lost waterproof state after 3 weeks of use. The store wont even replace them but instead want to refund me which will take days before I get my money back when I need fucken shoes now as I am on leave and want to hike. I have the Koven WP Reply

[@TJ-hd5ym]

Love my keen mid voyager great comfort and great for climbing steep hills its like having jeep feet.

[@devarakondabhaskar8744]

Sir thanks you

[@MaralushaUSMC]

Im looking to either buy another pair of Merrell MOABs or buying Keen Targhee iiis for the first time. Any chance you have worn Merrells and can compare them?

[@WaywardStories]

I have not worn the Merrell MOABS. Unfortunately I can’t give any side-by-side comparison on them. What I can say is these Targhee III’s are just now starting to give out on me and they have more miles on them than I can count. They ended up being my daily work shoes and I average 6-7 miles a day on all different terrains. And though the outer leather is finally starting to give, they’re still waterproof. I was working just last week in some really wet conditions and my feet stayed completely dry. As far as waterproof, these have impressed me far beyond expectations Since they are starting to give out I may try the MOABS next, but if I do it’ll be some time before I could compare them Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@mattymoldovan3986]

ive owned 9 pairs of keens they have went down in quality ive noticed 5 months the shoes blow out bonding comes apart

[@arturkonicz8135]

Exactly, these shoes have lost their quality, I have already bought 3 pairs and the same defects, the sole is peeling off at the bend.

[@CptAngelKGaming]

I destroyed my ankle in a motorcycle accident and fixed it using barefoot shoes. Get into barefoot shoes and you'll never have ankle issues again. The huge platform created my those massive soles is the reason people twist their ankles. I know only wear sandals and low tops in warm weather.

[@anthcamps]

How are they holding up now? The keen III targhee mids? I heard some people are experiencing the bottom sole slowly falling off. Some glue it back I guess. How long have you had yours and has that happened? Awesome review

[@WaywardStories]

This video was about 2 1/2 years ago. So the boots are just a bit older than that. I also have a pair of lows that are about 3 1/2 years old now. What I can tell you is this: They both have countless thousand miles on them now, and I mean that literally. I’ve been a delivery driver averaging (conservatively) 6-8 miles a day of walking in all conditions. And I hike in them. They have both finally lost their waterproofing, but that was just recently on both pair. The soles are still on both pair, and though they have been relegated to not daily use at this point, I still wear them out on archeological digs and other things where I don’t want to ruin better shoes. They’re still functional, albeit no longer watertight. For me, I’m sold on Keen’s. Those two pair I mentioned were so good I have two more current pair. Another set of mids I wear to work and another pair that live in my car for search and rescue/hiking. I’ve also heard some people having some issues, but idk if they’re just lemons, or if keen maybe changed the materials they use, if they just had a bad run, etc. all I can attest to is that the ones I own have sold me for the long haul unless they start falling apart on me too somewhere in the future.

[@jaredjroc5139]

How are they in snow? With snow caked on the toe box all day? Are they warm? I'm also a delivery driver.

[@WaywardStories]

They have done pretty well for me if I’m wearing a good pair of smartwool trekking socks. That said, my toes will still get cold by the end of the day. But also they aren’t intended to be insulated snow boots. But they do pretty darn well with good socks.

[@nobodyisprfct]

Would u recommend them for people with a fused ankle?

[@WaywardStories]

I wish I could say. I’m honestly not familiar enough with the mechanics of a fused ankle to say one way or another really. I do love the ankle support these have. But I honestly can’t give an informed opinion whether they would be good for a fused ankle or not

[@slavikmishcheriakov2832]

What about toe box? I found them surprising narrow in toe area. Didn’t find position where my big toes are not deformed Btw, what was the temperature during this test? I was told these boots are designed for real winters up to -15 C .

[@WaywardStories]

The toe box on the regular is definitely narrow and I have very wide feet. However I just replaced mine with another pair after 2 1/2 years of daily hard wear and bought them in wide and they have plenty of room. I don’t know that I could suggest them to those kinds of temps. They’re pretty good with wool socks down to around 15 or 20° F but -15C seems pretty outlandish. Maybe they have an insulated winter model?

[@yichispiritual]

This water leaking problem can be easily solved by wearing gaitors.

[@sridharkancharla62]

How well do these boots perform in the cold? Do they have any insulation to keep your feet warm if you’re walking in the snow or 10-20 degree weather?

[@WaywardStories]

I hiked in them over the weekend and the temps were 25-30 degrees most of the days. It was wet weather but no snow piled on ground. I was wearing a pair of warm weather combat socks. My feet never felt cold. That I noticed anyway so that must say something. I can’t say for sub 20 degree weather yet but mid 20’s with summer breathable socks on I never even noticed how my feet were feeling. I imagine the waterproofing chokes out some breathability and keeps a warmer pocket of air inside. I also think wearing a good pair of smart wool socks would probably get you down into the colder temps comfortably.

[@acamachor]

Hello, anyone used this boots on snow on low temperatures like 10F? Thanks.

[@WaywardStories]

I have, but in a work setting, not a hiking trail setting. They were warm with a pair of good wool socks. Traction they did fine but I wasn’t climbing

[@ws3448]

Might be a good idea to look at a true cold weather boot at those temps. Rubber has a tendency to get stiff the colder it gets, so a rubber designed directly to stay tackier in colder temps is a good idea. Keen makes the Anchorage, which has insulation and a cold weather rubber outsole with the same bottom as the Targhee III.

[@yevheniibatiievskyi]

NIce, but why wouldnt they make this shield up to the top of the tongue. Weird.

[@WaywardStories]

No idea. If I was guessing I’d say flexibility.

[@DarwinFishFry]

Walked through one puddle and my Keens Targhee Mid are soaked and my socks

[@BlackBeard_Actual]

What color combo is that pair?

[@WaywardStories]

I’ll get back to you in about a week and a half. I can’t find it online and I’m away from home for work. But it’s on the box in my closet. I’ll let you know.

[@BlackBeard_Actual]

@@WaywardStories all good thanks for the reply

[@GlideorDieSwimbaits]

got for 55$ brand new at unclaimed baggage (they sell lost airport luggage)

[@WaywardStories]

Damn I need to start hanging out at the airport

[@GlideorDieSwimbaits]

@@WaywardStories i assume the guy bought them on vacation and ended up losing them on the flight home feels bad for him but they in good hands gonna use em for hunting and firearm training so i won’t waste em lol

[@WaywardStories]

One mans loss is another’s gain lol. You got them for a steal

[@Urge38]

Mine leak. Your dreaming if you think they are waterproof. Out of the box maybe. But they all leak after a while I love everything about my keens (that are the same model as these) but for one thing. They leak

[@HmongGuitarPlayer]

The steel toe are shiet. The bottom soles will come apart. Will never buy them again.

[@WaywardStories]

This is good to know. Cause I would have considered it if I ever needed steel toes. Mine are still going pretty strong and still comfortable.

[@arturkonicz8135]

Exactly, these shoes have lost their quality, I have already bought 3 pairs and the same defects, the sole is peeling off at the bend.

[@danielfitzgerald9008]

Not gonna bore with us with standing in a river, but for us with get some leg fracture boring content

[@WaywardStories]

Thank you for your deeply insightful critique. Your intellect really shines through!